Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has outlined the strategy behind the Black Stars’ resurgence and their successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ghana’s senior national team endured a difficult period after failing to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time in over two decades—a setback that led to widespread frustration and fan boycotts.
However, a dramatic turnaround followed under Adams’ tenure. With six matches remaining in the qualifiers, the Black Stars recorded five wins and a draw to secure qualification.
Reflecting on the revival in an interview with Graphic Sports, Adams admitted belief had waned at one point.
“There were a lot of people who gave up on Black Stars,” he said. “But through a certain strategic pull-up, we have been able to play six matches, won five and drawn one, and that made it possible for us to qualify.”
He attributed the turnaround to a coordinated effort involving key stakeholders, including backing from the Presidency and renewed fan support, with supporters turning up in large numbers at the Accra Sports Stadium.
A major part of the reforms, Adams revealed, was a restructuring of the team’s management and incentive system. The new approach shifted focus from traditional match bonuses to rewarding the broader objective of qualification.
“We started first by letting them know that we’re not going to pay them winning bonuses as it used to be… we want them to manage the team to make sure that we qualify,” he stated.
Ghana finished top of their qualifying group and will now face Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, the Black Stars are in Austria finalising preparations for upcoming friendlies, with a clash against Austria scheduled for March 27 in Vienna before travelling to Stuttgart to face Germany on March 30.
